Top 100 Ulysses S. Grant Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

2. “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

3. “Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

4. “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon’s but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

5. “The most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

6. “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

7. “I will raid the arsenal and start a war to end slavery.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

8. “My failures have been errors in judgment, not of intent.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

9. “Quit thinking about what Bobby Lee’s gonna do to us and start thinking about what we’re going to do to him.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

10. “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

11. “The fact is I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; or to suffer. I signify all three.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

12. “As soon as slavery fired upon the flag it was felt, we all felt, even those who did not object to slaves, that slavery must be destroyed. We felt that it was a stain to the Union that men should be bought and sold like cattle.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

13. “God gave us Lincoln and Liberty, let us fight for both.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

14. “The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: Strong Quotes

15. “Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: Book Quotes

16. “The will of the people is the best law.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

17. “I suppose this work is part of the devil that is in us all.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

18. “I have never advocated war except as means of peace, so seek peace, but prepare for war. Because war... War never changes. War is like winter and winter is coming.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

19. “I will not move my army without onions.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

20. “Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: 4th Of July Quotes

21. “I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

22. “Venice would be a fine city if it were only drained.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

23. “Lee’s army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

24. “It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may expect the most efficient service.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

25. “Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

26. “Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

27. “Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

28. “No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

29. “All secret oath-bound political parties are dangerous to any nation, no matter how pure or how patriotic the motives and principles which first bring them together.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

30. “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

31. “Two commanders on the same field are always one too many.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

32. “I appreciate the fact, and am proud of it, that the attentions I am receiving are intended more for our country than for me personally.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: Country Quotes

33. “It is preposterous to suppose that the people of one generation can lay down the best and only rules of government for all who are to come after them, and under unforeseen contingencies.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

34. “I desire the good-will of all, whether hitherto my friends or not.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

35. “Whatever there is of greatness in the United States, or indeed in any other country, is due to labor. The laborer is the author of all greatness and wealth. Without labor there would be no government, no leading class, and nothing to preserve.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: Country Quotes

36. “It does look like a very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for?”

— Ulysses S. Grant

37. “Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

38. “There are many men who would have done better than I did under the circumstances in which I found myself. If I had never held command, if I had fallen, there were 10,000 behind who would have followed the contest to the end and never surrendered the Union.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

39. “To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared for war.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

40. “When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

41. “My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

Featured in: Book Quotes

42. “Let no guilty man escape if it can be avoided. Be specially vigilant-or instruct those engaged in the prosecution of fraud to be-against all who insinuate that they have high influence to protect-or to protect them. No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

43. “Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

44. “The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

45. “Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

46. “If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

47. “I have made it a rule of my life to trust a man long after other people gave him up, but I don’t see how I can ever trust any human being again.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

48. “If men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

49. “But my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticised.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

50. “I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.”

— Ulysses S. Grant